Shawl Ministry

Church of the Ascension’s Shawl Ministry was formed in the summer of 2005. The Shawl Ministry meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 9:30 AM in the church’s Guild Room.

Our shawls are given as a comfort during illness or bereavement and at marriage ceremonies. Baby blankets are presented for baptismal ceremonies.

Church of the Ascension shawls are given to men and women who are referred to the Shawl Ministry. Please call the church office at (216) 521-8727 when you are aware of someone in need.

If you would like to be involved in this caring ministry, you may participate by producing a shawl, by praying for those who are producing shawls, or by contributing toward the expense of producing a shawl.

All persons are welcome to share in the ministry of creating a warm and loving shawl for those in need of comfort, solace or sharing of joy.

Affiliation with Church of the Ascension (or any religious facility) is not required – only the desire to join in our creation and sharing.About the Shawls

In 1998, Janet Bristow and Victoria Zalo, both graduates of the Women’s Leadership Institute at The Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut, gave birth to the ministry as a result of their experience in the program of applied Feminist Spirituality under the direction of Professor Miriam Therese Winter, MMS.

Care and love of knitting and crocheting have been combined into a prayerful ministry that reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace. Many blessings are woven into the stitches of each shawl. The creator begins each shawl with prayers and blessings for the recipient. Intentions are continued throughout the creation of the shawl. When the shawl is completed, it is blessed by the priest before being sent along its way.

Some recipients have continued the kindness by making one themselves and passing it on to someone in need. Thus, the blessing is rippled from person to person, with both the giver and receiver feeling the unconditional embrace of a sheltering, mothering God!